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1st Cav begins return to Iraq

Posted on: Friday, December 12, 2008, 4:43 AM
By Amanda Kim Stairrett
Killeen Daily Herald

Today's the day.

Today marks the official beginning of the 1st Cavalry Division's return to Iraq. Today, the first flights of soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team leave Fort Hood for the Middle East.

They are the first of what the Army calls the "main body." Advance-party soldiers have already left to prepare for the arrival of those main bodies, but today marks the departure of more than 1,000 First Team soldiers.

Granted, the division's 4th Brigade Combat Team is already in Iraq, having served six months of an expected 15-month deployment. But, it practically takes a degree in Army translation to understand how the 4th fits into the division.

The "Long Knife" brigade was part of the 4th Infantry Division and deployed with it to Iraq in late 2005. As part of a reorganization among Fort Hood, Fort Bliss and Fort Carson, Colo., the brigade re-flagged as a 1st Cavalry unit on March 7.

The 1st Cavalry's original 4th Brigade, which deployed with the division to Iraq from Fort Bliss, re-flagged under the 1st Armored Division. The 4th Brigade colors and insignia that belonged to the 4th Infantry moved and re-formed at Fort Carson.

Those who were in the 4th Infantry's 4th Brigade stayed at Fort Hood, but adopted the unit designations of the 1st Cavalry's 4th Brigade.

No soldiers moved to different posts. Rather, the men and women who made up the brigade stayed at Fort Hood, receiving different unit designations and insignia, and a big, new, black-and-gold patch on their left shoulders.

So perhaps it is more accurate to say that those leaving today are the first 1st Cavalry soldiers who deployed with the division during its last rotation to Iraq.

Flights of First Team soldiers will remain steady this month and into January and February. The 2nd Brigade Combat Team is up after the 3rd Brigade, followed by the 1st Brigade Combat Team.

The division's Headquarters is expected to leave sometime in January, Maj. Gen. Daniel Bolger, division commander, said in late November at the tail end of an intensive mission rehearsal exercise at Fort Hood.

Bolger hosted a color-casing ceremony this morning, marking the final preparation in the division's third deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Those unit flags will be unfurled once the soldiers arrive in Iraq.

Bolger was in Iraq last week with 4th Infantry Division officials, including its commander, Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond, as part of a situational awareness visit.

The 4th Infantry's Headquarters and 3rd Brigade Combat Team deployed in November 2007 to Iraq. The Headquarters took the reins of Multinational Division-Baghdad from the 1st Cavalry, which was then led by Maj. Gen. Joseph Fill Jr., who has since been promoted to lieutenant general and taken an assignment in Korea.

The 4th Infantry's 1st Brigade Combat Team left Fort Hood in February and March, and the Combat Aviation Brigade left in June.

Among other deployed Fort Hood units, the 41st Fires Brigade left in June, the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment left in October, and the 1st Infantry Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team left in July and August for Afghanistan.

Contact Amanda Kim Stairrett at astair @ kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7547.